At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement for critical energy categories at Heathrow, driving innovation and sustainability.
- Company: Join Heathrow, a leader in energy transformation and airport operations.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of energy.
- Other info: Dynamic role with significant influence over senior decision-making and collaboration across teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on Heathrow's net-zero ambitions and energy roadmap.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in Energy & Utilities procurement and strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
hackajob is collaborating with Heathrow to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.
This is a high-impact leadership role at the heart of Heathrow’s Energy & Utilities transformation. The role leads end-to-end operational procurement for some of the airport’s most critical energy categories such as electricity, water, gas, fuel and desalination. This role shapes how Heathrow sources, contracts and manages the systems that keep the airport running.
In this role, you will set the direction for category strategy, lead complex sourcing and commercial negotiations, and provide programme wide commercial oversight that directly informs senior decision making. With a mandate to drive value, resilience and innovation, the role translates complex technical and commercial detail into clear, actionable strategies that support Heathrow’s net-zero ambitions and long-term energy roadmap.
This role will require your leadership in a fast-moving, multi-stakeholder environment, and bringing deep Energy & Utilities procurement expertise, strong renewable market insight and the ability to challenge, advise and influence senior stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Leading commercial oversight of the Energy & Utilities Programme, ensuring alignment to strategic objectives, delivery milestones and operational requirements.
- Developing and evolving category strategies, sourcing pipelines and market intelligence to drive long-term value, resilience and performance.
- Running complex, end-to-end strategic sourcing activity, shaping route-to-market strategies and delivering robust commercial outcomes.
- Providing leadership across Energy & Utilities procurement, driving market engagement, supplier capability assessments and forward-looking strategy informed by regulatory and market developments.
- Negotiating and managing complex commercial agreements, KPIs and value mechanisms, ensuring benefits realisation and continuous performance improvement.
- Acting as a trusted advisor within programme governance, influencing senior stakeholders, ensuring consistent procurement standards and driving collaboration across teams.
Qualifications
- Significant experience leading Energy & Utilities procurement, with strong knowledge of renewable energy markets and regulatory dynamics.
- Proven ability to develop and execute category strategies and lead complex end-to-end strategic sourcing.
- Strong commercial and contractual leadership, including negotiating complex agreements and ensuring governance and value for money.
- Programme-level commercial oversight capability, managing risks, interdependencies and performance across large, multi-workstream environments.
- Credible senior stakeholder influence, acting as a trusted advisor and aligning diverse groups to procurement and commercial outcomes.
- Leadership experience driving high-performance delivery, developing teams and fostering collaboration across procurement and wider functions.
Ideally you will have
- Experience shaping forward-looking Energy & Utilities strategies informed by market dynamics, regulatory change and innovation.
- Strong understanding of renewable commercial mechanisms such as shaping, imbalance management, sleeving and certificate retirement.
- Familiarity with complex programme governance structures, providing challenge, assurance and commercial insight at senior forum.
- Experience partnering with CAPEX teams to ensure effective contract mobilisation, delivery and performance management.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Category Leader (Hounslow)
✨Get Involved with Industry Events
The energy and utilities sector is always buzzing with events, trade shows, and networking opportunities. We should hit up conferences and exhibitions like Energy UK or Utility Week Live—these are prime spots to mingle with industry professionals and even snag some insider info on job openings!
✨Join Energy-focused Online Communities
Let's tap into online platforms and forums like LinkedIn groups or Reddit communities specifically for energy and utilities. Not only can we showcase our knowledge, but we can also stay updated on company announcements or job leads from people already in the know.
✨Consider Industry Certifications
Pushing ahead with certifications like the NEBOSH National Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health (if you’re into safety) can give us a leg up in this competitive field. It not only builds our credibility but also shows employers that we’re serious about our career in energy and utilities.
✨Apply ThroughHeathrow's Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through Heathrow's website for the full-time Senior Category Leader (Hounslow) role. Many companies prioritise candidates who show initiative by going straight to the source. Make sure we tailor our application to highlight our passion for the energy sector!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category Leader (Hounslow)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Energy Knowledge:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure you highlight any knowledge or experience related to the energy-utilities sector. Whether it’s coursework, internships, or projects that showcase your understanding of energy management, sustainability, or regulatory frameworks, we want to see that passion and expertise shine through.
Quantify Your Achievements:In our field, numbers speak volumes! Don’t just tell us about your previous roles; quantify your achievements where possible. For instance, mention how you improved energy efficiency by a percentage or contributed to cost savings. This makes your application more compelling and shows us just how impactful you can be.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Heathrow. Tailor it to reflect how your values align with our mission in the energy sector. Share why you're excited about this specific role and how you envision contributing to our goals.
Demonstrate Your Team Spirit:Collaboration is key in the energy-utilities industry. In your application, emphasise any team projects or experiences where you worked effectively with others, especially on sustainability initiatives or technical projects. We're looking for someone who can mesh well with our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Heathrow
✨Show Your Passion for Renewable Energy
In the energy-utilities sector, it’s vital to demonstrate your enthusiasm for sustainable practices and innovations. Share experiences where you've worked on or studied renewable energy projects, whether that’s through coursework, past internships, or personal initiatives. Let us see how your passion aligns with the ethos of Heathrow.
✨Brush Up on Industry Regulations
Being familiar with industry standards and regulations is crucial in energy-utilities interviews. Make sure to know the basics of relevant policies and frameworks, like the Energy Act or environmental legislation. This will not only show you’ve done your homework but will also prepare you for potential technical questions about compliance during your interview.
✨Highlight Teamwork and Project Management Skills
Most roles in the energy sector involve collaboration with diverse teams. Be ready to discuss examples where you’ve successfully worked in teams or led projects, especially those involving energy initiatives. This is particularly important for a full-time position, as employers want to see you bring a collaborative spirit to Heathrow.
✨Prepare for Technical Assessments
Expect some technical questions or even practical assessments during your interview, especially about energy efficiency methodologies or basic engineering principles relevant to the role. It’s a good idea to brush up on key concepts and be prepared to explain them clearly, as this will demonstrate your technical proficiency and readiness to jump into your new role.
